Should cell phones be banned in public places?

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Should cell phones be banned in public places?
Michael Goldberg Cis55-614
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Who uses cell phones and why?

• Cellular phones are a part of our lives, 69 of
  Americans own one
• Cell phones are used for
• Keeping family members in touch
• Communications for businesses
• Social uses

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Why is there a problem?

• Many people talk loudly on their cell phones and
  can distract other people around them.
• Cell phone use has increased in places where
  people expect quiet such as a movie theatre,
  library, train, school, etc.
• Sometimes people discuss private matters while on
  the phone in public places and can be offensive
  to other people around who overhear.

4
What can be done to help?

• Public places such as movie theatres inform their
  patrons to not use their cell phones during movie
  theatres.
• Laws can be passed to enforce cell phone
  restrictions
• Cell phone users should be courteous off people
  around them by following a cell phone etiquette

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Cell-Phone Etiquette
DOS!!

• Here is a list of ten Dos and Donts that can
  help a person be courteous in using their cell
  phone
• Dos
• Never take a personal mobile call during a
  business meeting.
• Maintain at least a 10-foot zone from anyone
  while talking
• Never talk in elevators, libraries, museums,
  restaurants, cemeteries, theaters, dentist or
  doctor waiting rooms, places of worship,
  auditoriums or other enclosed public spaces, such
  as hospital emergency rooms or buses. And don't
  have any emotional conversations in public
  ever.
• Don't use loud and annoying ring tones that
  destroy concentration.
• Never "multi-task" by making calls while
  shopping, banking, waiting in line or conducting
  other personal business.

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Cell-Phone Etiquette cont

• Donts
• Keep all cellular conversations brief and to the
  point
• Use an earpiece in high-traffic or noisy
  locations. That lets you hear the amplification,
  or how loud you sound at the other end, so you
  can modulate your voice.
• Tell callers when you're talking on a mobile, so
  they can anticipate distractions or
  disconnections
• Demand "quiet zones" and "phone-free areas" at
  work and in public venues, like the quiet cars on
  the Amtrak Metroliner
• Inform everyone in your mobile address book that
  you've just adopted the new rules for mobile
  manners. Ask them to do likewise.

DONTS
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Cell- Phone Legislation

• Many people do not follow a cell phone
  etiquette, as a result legislations have been
  passed restricting use in public places.
• Canada has proposed laws that would jam cell
  phone signals in certain public places such as
  movie theatres, churches, schools, etc. The cell
  phone jammers would block any phone signals in
  these selected public places.
• In December 2002, the state of New York banned
  the use of cell phones in all places of public
  performance which includes movie theatres, dance
  performances, art galleries/museums, etc. New
  York was the first state to do so. New York was
  also the first state to pass legislation banning
  cell phone use while driving.
• Many states have already passed legislation or
  are considering banning cell phone use while
  driving.

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What does the public think?
Survey conducted by The University of Michigan
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What do I think?

• I am not in favor of banning cell phone use in
  all public places.
• People have emergencies and need to be able to
  communicate at times, so access to a cell phone
  is necessary.
• However, I feel in places where people expect
  quiet, (movie theatre, place of worship, train,
  airplane,etc.) patrons should be reminded to keep
  their cell phone use to a minimum and please be
  courteous to people around them. Movie theatres
  normally have advertisements to tell patrons to
  please turn their phones off.

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Continued

• If people followed the cell phone etiquette
  then there would be no problem.
• I feel cell phone jammers would not be fair
  because people need their cell phones in times of
  emergency. Canada is attempting to pass
  legislation doing so which might make the United
  States to consider doing the same.